Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, Indian press had suddenly turned ‘against Rajiv Gandhi after he ordered tax raids on some of the big industrial houses of the country.
Ambassador: That’s right,
Journalist: There was talk of his declining hold on the masses and also of serious troubles in the party. In fact, some newspapers even ‘suggested that Congress (I) was on the verge of a split.
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: What did Rajiv do to make the press change its tune? Has ‘he struck some kind of a deal with the industrial tycoons of the country? Does it not show that Indian press is controlled by powerful industrialists who can make Rajiv dance the way they like?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, it appears that Rajiv has finally reconciled with the idea of handing over Chandigarh back to where legally, morally and constitutionally belongs.
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: Ravi-Beas waters also legally and constitutionally belong to Punjab, In fact, all the issues raised in the Anandpur Sahib Resolution were legitimate and their denial showed that the policy of discrimination was deliberately practiced by the Central Government against Punjab to undermine the economic growth of the Sikhs. The purpose was to make Sikhs identify themselves with the religion of the majority community.
Ambassador: Very correct
Journalist: Do you think Rajiv will reverse this policy and recognize Punjab’s legal claims to Ravi and Beas waters? Will he show courage to admit that the Anandpur Sahib resolution is not secessionist but deserves to be implemented in total? Don’t you think denial of this truth is gradually leading India to disintegration?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Journalist: Mr. Ambassador, at the so called non-aligned countries meeting in Delhi, Rajiv Gandhi condemned in strongest words, American bombing of Libya and called it a barbarous act?
Ambassador: That’s right.
Journalist: He ignored America’s charge that Libya was indulging in international terrorism and killing innocent Americans?
Ambassador: Very correct.
Journalist: Do you think Rajiv supports Libyan and Tamil terrorists because he practices state terrorism against minorities in India?
Ambassador: Not in national interest to disclose.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 20, 1986
